Installing Speed Humps in Windsor Terrace:
Notes from Community Board 7's Transportation Committee Meeting
Notes by Lisa Perlmutter
Community Board 7 member, Windsor Terrace Safe Streets member, parent, and Windsor Terrace resident
October 13, 2015
As
in August, everyone was agreed that traffic speed in Windsor Terrace
was a problem; many of the same opinions and perspectives were shared.
The net net is that this proposal was not a list of speed humps the DOT
was planning to install but rather a list of locations in the study area
where a speed hump COULD be installed.
Community Board 7 wants to hear
block by block preferences about speed humps, so each block should
rally support on their block for the humps and submit petitions/letters
to CB7 which greatly values this information to help guide voting
decisions.
Some key outcomes from the discussion:
A
study had been requested and conducted on the intersection of Windsor
and 8th Avenue. DOT will be installing a traffic light there in
February 2016. Later in the discussion, DOT pointed out that one of the
negative results of traffic lights is that cars may speed to beat the
yellow.
DOT also acknowledged that some of their studies were completed
prior to the closing of Prospect Park to traffic; they agreed this
might have some impact on the results and may do some follow up studies
as appropriate.
In
response to general concerns about speed humps, DOT said they have yet
to have a structural engineer report structural damage to buildings or
water mains from speed humps; noise and quality of life issues were
raised by some in the audience.
Due to installation timing, any speed
humps would be installed in 2016, so there is still time to collect
input. Humps are 3 feet for non-school locations and 4 feet for school
locations.
A representative from Brad Lander’s office pointed out that federal traffic studies are based on volume while city studies are based on speed, so some disconnect. It was also noted by DOT that the city follows federal standards for stop signs and traffic lights.
Where a speed study had been done, the 85th %ile speed was noted, as this is a key determinant of speeding problems for the DOT (said in simple terms, 85 of 100 drivers are going at that speed or lower; note NYC now has a 25 mph speed limit).
The 15 speed hump locations were discussed one by one:
NOTE: a speed hump is also planned for 11th Avenue between Sherman St and Windsor Pl in front of PS 154. Since this is a school location, not up for CB voting.
#1: Windsor Place between 11th Ave and PPSW
Uphill slope with a traffic light at end of block. Considered a school block and is therefore not up for CB voting. Should not have been on the map.
#2: Sherman Street between 11th and Terrace Pl
This is a school location and therefore not up for CB voting. Should not have been on the map. Downhill increases speeds, but stop sign at bottom at Terrace.
#3: Terrace Place between PPSW and Prospect Ave
Speed study not yet conducted, so removed from agenda. Request entered that a light be installed at Sherman instead of speed humps.
#4: Seeley Street between PPSW and Prospect Ave
85th %ile speed: 31mph
Much discussion about Seeley and why it it is two way and Terrace Pl is one way considering how narrow Seeley is. Only thoroughfare that goes from cemetery to park.
A representative from Brad Lander’s office pointed out that federal traffic studies are based on volume while city studies are based on speed, so some disconnect. It was also noted by DOT that the city follows federal standards for stop signs and traffic lights.
Where a speed study had been done, the 85th %ile speed was noted, as this is a key determinant of speeding problems for the DOT (said in simple terms, 85 of 100 drivers are going at that speed or lower; note NYC now has a 25 mph speed limit).
The 15 speed hump locations were discussed one by one:
NOTE: a speed hump is also planned for 11th Avenue between Sherman St and Windsor Pl in front of PS 154. Since this is a school location, not up for CB voting.
#1: Windsor Place between 11th Ave and PPSW
Uphill slope with a traffic light at end of block. Considered a school block and is therefore not up for CB voting. Should not have been on the map.
#2: Sherman Street between 11th and Terrace Pl
This is a school location and therefore not up for CB voting. Should not have been on the map. Downhill increases speeds, but stop sign at bottom at Terrace.
#3: Terrace Place between PPSW and Prospect Ave
Speed study not yet conducted, so removed from agenda. Request entered that a light be installed at Sherman instead of speed humps.
#4: Seeley Street between PPSW and Prospect Ave
85th %ile speed: 31mph
Much discussion about Seeley and why it it is two way and Terrace Pl is one way considering how narrow Seeley is. Only thoroughfare that goes from cemetery to park.
Humps on Seeley very close together - due to
inability for them to be placed anywhere else on Seeley, but they will
relook at that to reconfirm, specifically near 18th Street.
A woman spoke of her 17 year old son who was killed on Seeley years
ago. Traffic study indicated not enough traffic at Seeley and PPSW for a
light.
#5: Vanderbilt Street between PPSW and Prospect Ave
85th %ile speed: 27 mph
Very well crafted response by block resident. They have measured and don’t see how a hump is possible at the Prospect end of the block but are ok with that due to the proposed hump #6 below.
They studied accident reports and most accidents are cars driving from Terrace/Seeley and turning onto Vanderbilt (less coming from the other direction on Prospect). The block is prepared to collect signatures.
#6: Prospect Ave between Seeley St and Vanderbilt St
85th %ile speed: 27 mph
See comments for #5 above. Question raised why not have a light at that intersection? Vanderbilt resident had the answer: not enough traffic volume per federal guidelines.
#7: 18th Street between Seeley St and Terrace Pl
85th %ile speed: 23 mph (done Dec 2014, one month after speed limit dropped)
Resident noted this street is uphill with a stop sign at Terrace. No significant support of a speed hump on this block.
#8: 19th Street between Vanderbilt St and Seeley St
Removed from map/agenda as DOT is looking into a safety project in the area that will be announced next year. A signal will be put in at 19th and 10th Ave near Bishop Ford at the top of the off ramp (much crowd delight at this announcement).
#5: Vanderbilt Street between PPSW and Prospect Ave
85th %ile speed: 27 mph
Very well crafted response by block resident. They have measured and don’t see how a hump is possible at the Prospect end of the block but are ok with that due to the proposed hump #6 below.
They studied accident reports and most accidents are cars driving from Terrace/Seeley and turning onto Vanderbilt (less coming from the other direction on Prospect). The block is prepared to collect signatures.
#6: Prospect Ave between Seeley St and Vanderbilt St
85th %ile speed: 27 mph
See comments for #5 above. Question raised why not have a light at that intersection? Vanderbilt resident had the answer: not enough traffic volume per federal guidelines.
#7: 18th Street between Seeley St and Terrace Pl
85th %ile speed: 23 mph (done Dec 2014, one month after speed limit dropped)
Resident noted this street is uphill with a stop sign at Terrace. No significant support of a speed hump on this block.
#8: 19th Street between Vanderbilt St and Seeley St
Removed from map/agenda as DOT is looking into a safety project in the area that will be announced next year. A signal will be put in at 19th and 10th Ave near Bishop Ford at the top of the off ramp (much crowd delight at this announcement).
#9: Seeley St between McDonald Ave and 20th St (there was a typo on the agenda)
8th %ile speed: 29 mph
Assumption that many comments about Seeley would continue to apply here. 20th and Seeley has a 4-way stop sign.
#10: Vanderbilt St between McDonald Ave and East 2nd St
85th %ile speed: 21 mph (done Jan-April 2015)
No significant support of a speed hump on this block.
#11: Kermit Place between Ocean Pkwy and East 8th
CB7 member and resident noted it was a very short street with a lot of traffic backing up.
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Thank you, Lisa, for taking these notes and distributing them.
